Ecology of Populations

What is
Ecology?

Ecology
the study of the
interactions of
organisms w/ its
environment.

Population Growth
Populations grow when
birth rate exceeds rate of
mortality
DEATH

Age Distribution
Age-Structure Diagram shows
growth patterns of populations
grouped into categories

Horizontal axis = Number of

individuals

Human Age Distribution

Developed countries

Less-developed
countries

Humans are part of the

Earth's
ecosystem. Human activities
can either deliberately or
inadvertently
alter the balance
of an ecosystem.

What do you Think???

How do human
activities affect
the
environment?

With more info

Will you change

your perspective
or will you feel
the same way?

Human impacts on the Environment

Global warming

Use of machinery
by humans seems
to be increasing
CO2 levels in the
air. CO2 prevents
heat from
escaping, causes
slight world wide
temperature
increases

Rising water
temperatures causes

Human impacts on the

environment

Deforestation

Caused by demand for wood products,

need for space, farmland, housing,

roads
Deforestation causes
habitat fragmentation
Animals and plants are forced into
confined areas

Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat Fragmentation

Human impacts on the

Environment
Ozone depletion
Caused by aerosol chemicals called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
CFCs
Escape into atmosphere, reacts breaking
down the ozone (O3, a protective
atmospheric layer)
UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and
cause
harm to many organisms

HOLE
in the
ozone
(O3)

Human impacts on the

Environment
Fishing activities

Demand for fish and shellfish

Commercial Fishing be harmful

to environment in

many ways

Human impacts on the environment

Invasive species (EXOTIC SPECIES)

introduced by people accidentally or
intentionally
Can cause problems if no natural
enemies are
Cane
toad was
present
introduced to
Australia to control
cane beetles, pest
insects that destroy
sugar cane crops

Human impacts on the

Environment
Exotic pet trade
Capture and sell wild animals from
exotic locations
Wealthy buyers and collectors desire
obscure animals
Animals removed from their habitat
causes an imbalance in the ecosystem

Importance of the
Environment

Biodiversity = Many
different types of
organisms

Organisms depend
upon one another
Interfering with one
Organism can have a
Ripple effect to many
w/in the habitat

Importance of the
environment
Natural resources:
Non-renewable
includes fossil fuels
(petroleum, coal)
Renewable
includes animals,
plants, water, wind,
etc.
even renewable
resources can run
out

Importance of the
Environment
Natural resources
Renewable energy sources include
wind power, geothermal energy,
ocean currents

Pollution:
Agricultural
DDT
Fertilizers
Animal wastes (nitrogen)

Homes
Strong cleaning agents

Industry
Toxic gases and wastes
Acid rain

Stewardship:

Group leaders:
Get your RW.BKS

Turn to ch. 5:
use as a resource to
answer questions
on Human Impact
handout